Things to do in Taupo
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Plateau
One of a growing number of brewery-branded gastro-pubs, Plateau is a great place for a drink (Monteith’s beer being the main poison), but the food is the key. The menu is predominantly modern NZ (think lamb rump and rib-eye), with plenty of fancy fusion twists.
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Barbary
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Taupo Bungy
The picturesque Taupo Bungy site is the most popular on the North Island. It sits on a cliff edge over the mighty Waikato River, with plenty of vantage points if you’re too chicken to jump. Nonchickens will be led onto a platform jutting 20m out over a cliff (the world’s first cantilever jump, for engineering boffins) and convinced, with masterly skill, to throw themselves off the edge. A heart-stopping 47m hurtle and a few bounces back and it’s safely into the boat. You can also opt for a slight dunk in the river, or strap yourself to a friend and leap off together. Alternatively, try the giant swing.
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Taupo Museum & Art Gallery
The Taupo Museum & Art Gallery has historical displays covering the local forestry, nautical and trout-fishing industries, a mock-up of a 19th-century shop and a moa skeleton. There are regular visiting art exhibitions, too. The centrepiece of the collection is a Maori meeting house, Te Aroha o Rongoheikume, adorned with elaborate carvings. Situated in a courtyard, the Ora Garden of Wellbeing is a re-creation of NZ’s gold-medal-winning entry into the 2004 Chelsea Flower Show. It’s quite small, but features more than 1000 native plants and a steamy lizard scene.
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Taupo Motorsport Park
Thrill seekers with petrol-head tendencies should head to the Taupo Motorsport Park. This state-of-the-art 3.5km racetrack and drag circuit has staged the A1 Grand Prix. There’s often something to watch here, from sidecar races to ‘drifters’ and, on occasion, the police testing their skills. You can get out on the track in a V8 or Formula Challenge Race Car with Formula Challenge, or superfast rides with a pro in the driver’s seat and driving tuition can be organised through Track Drive.
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Brantry
Chef Prue Campbell and sister Felicity continue to run the best and most consistent restaurant in the region at this 1950s town house, a few minutes from the town centre. Dine in intimate, unobtrusive surrounds, inside or out. The menu makes use of some of NZ’s finest ingredients, including top-quality cuts of beef and lamb. The set menu (two-/three-courses $40/50) is a gift.
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Taupo Hot Springs Spa
Taupo Hot Springs Spa has a variety of mineral-rich indoor and outdoor thermal pools, freshwater pools and a giant dragon waterslide for the young ones. Adults can enjoy a wide choice of treatments, such as massage and body scrubs. There’s a health-food cafe on-site as well as picnic and barbecue facilities.
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Taupo’s Floatplane
Located at the entrance to the marina, the floatplane does a variety of trips, including quick flights over the lake and longer ones over Mt Ruapehu or White Island. Packages include the Taupo Trifecta Combo (floatplane trip, followed by a jetboat trip and a walk through Orakei Korako; $385).
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L’Arté
A 10-minute drive from town will reward you with a fantastically artful cafe in an ebullient sculpture garden with a gallery alongside. Lots of mouth-watering treats are made from scratch here, including the pesto that sits on the must-have antipasto platter. The home baking is a triumph.
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Replete
Widely regarded as one of Taupo’s best cafes, Replete’s counter is packed full of delicatessen delights – running the gamut from sandwiches and salads to sweets. Its pastry selection is particularly commendable. A blackboard menu offers inexpensive and interesting light meals.
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Wairakei International Golf Course
8km north of Taupo; a challenging course set in 150 hectares of beautiful countryside, rated within the top 100 courses worldwide. In late 2009 a 2m-high, 5km-long pest-proof fence was erected, turning the whole course into a native bird sanctuary.
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Pimentos
Such a local favourite that you may well need to book to enjoy some of the town’s best food in this convivial environment. Its lamb shanks and mash are legendary, but the relatively short menu offers plenty of well-considered experimentation.
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Rapid Sensations/Kayaking Kiwi
Kayak trips to the Maori carvings (4½ hours, $108) and a gentle paddle along the Waikato (two hours, $45). Also runs six-hour white-water rafting trips on the Tongariro River ($135) and shorter trips along a calmer section (2½ hours, $115).
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AC Baths
The AC Baths at the Taupo Events Centre, about 2km east of town, has a big, heated pool with a waterslide, an indoor kids pool, private mineral pools and a sauna. There’s also a climbing wall.
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Cruise Cat
The Cruise Cat is a large, modern launch that offers lake fishing trips and cruises, with daily scenic trips to see the Maori carvings at Mine Bay. Sunday brunch trips ($53) are especially worthwhile.
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Helistar Helicopters
Located about 3km northeast of town, Helistar offers a variety of scenic helicopter flights, from 10 minutes to two hours. Combine a Helistar trip with the Huka Falls Jet in the Huka Star combo (from $193).
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Fine Fettle
An airy cafe on a quieter edge of town, serving wholefood, organic, and GE- and gluten-free options. The healthy, satisfying offerings include quiches and fresh salads, plus juices, smoothies and iced chai.
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Jolly Good Fellows
Corr, Guvnor! You ain’t seen a pub like this since old Blighty, with lashings of cultural clichés and cheeky humour added to its pub grub, along with Old Speckled Hen, Tetleys and Bulmers cider on tap.
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On Tap
This place packs a paunch with paté to start, steaks as big as your fist, cheese to round off and a beer bonanza throughout. Modern-man interior with beaut wooden bar and smokers' den out front.
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Chris Jolly Outdoors
Can sort out all sorts of water sports, including kayak hire (single/double per hour $20/30) and self-drive boats ($70 to $85 per hour). Also organises helicopter tours and books other activities.
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Shed
A lively place to sup a beer and catch the big game, sit outside and watch the world go by, or strut your stuff to DJs at the weekends. Food is punter-pleasing pub fare in man-sized portions.
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Bond
Aiming for 007-like sophistication, this is Taupo’s most upmarket bar, with European beers, tapas and DJs up late. The drinks cost a pretty Money-Penny, but you may still see a Q at the bar.
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Helipro
Specialises in heli-tours, which include alpine and White Island landings, as well as shorter scenic flights over the town, lake and volcanoes (minimum 10 minutes).
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Heli-Biking
For luxury rough riding, Heli-Biking will pick you up in a helicopter and drop you on top of the highest point in the Kaimanawas, allowing you to bike all the way down.
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Eruption
Shelter behind one of the free newspapers while Eruption’s espresso machine steams and spurts out black rivers topped with creamy foam. The food selection’s limited but tasty.
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